French actress Charlotte Arnould said Tuesday that Gérard Depardieu has been ordered to stand trial on charges of raping her, marking the latest development in a case that has shaken the French film industry.
Arnould, 29, identified herself as the woman behind the accusations in 2022, saying she could no longer remain silent.
On Instagram, she wrote: “I think I’m having trouble realizing how huge this is. I’m relieved.”
Depardieu, one of France’s most celebrated actors, has denied any wrongdoing. Neither the Paris prosecutor’s office nor Arnould’s lawyer confirmed her statement, and Depardieu’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Investigative magistrates placed Depardieu under formal investigation in 2022 on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.
The accusations stem from alleged assaults at his Paris home in 2018.
The actor, known internationally for roles in films such as Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, was also found guilty in May of sexually assaulting two women on a film set, for which he received an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Arnould attended that trial in person.
The upcoming trial adds to mounting legal challenges facing Depardieu, whose reputation has increasingly been overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct.